A BURGLAR took advantage of a woman's kindness to sneak into her home.

Michael Gallagher's victim had spotted him outside her house eating a yoghurt with the pot's lid and offered to get him a spoon.

But when he had finished eating he asked to use the toilet and then requested a glass of water.

Bolton Crown Court heard how, after he left, his 64-year-old victim noticed that her keys, phone and purse were missing.

Michelle Brown, prosecuting, told how the brave woman chased after him and insisted on searching him, but could not find her possessions.

Gallagher, of Levens Drive, Bolton, was arrested after being traced via DNA left on a glass and pleaded guilty to burglary.

After hearing how the 45-year-old already has three previous convictions for house burglary Judge Graeme Smith sentenced him to 876 days in prison.

Describing it as a "mean" offence, Judge Smith told him: "She was being generous to you.

"It appears initially she acted quite bravely trying to confront you, but afterwards obviously realised just how vulnerable she was."

The judge stressed that the crime was just as much a burglary as if Gallagher had broken in in the middle of the night.

Miss Brown told how the victim was sat in her Breightmet garden in the afternoon of April 4 when she saw a drunken man outside her gate.

"He appeared to eating a yoghurt using a lid and she offered him a spoon," said Miss Brown, who added that the woman told him to stay where he was but was "shocked" when she returned to find him at her door.

The man asked to use the toilet and, while he was inside the woman, who is partially deaf, stayed in the garden playing with her dog.

Her bag was hung up by the door and when she saw Gallagher acting suspiciously she challenged him over whether he had touched it.

Claiming to have diabetes, Gallagher then asked for a glass of water and he followed her into the kitchen.

"This caused her to feel scared and she believed he was about to hurt her," said Miss Brown.

"She got him a drink in the hope he would leave and he walked towards her scooter where her bag was placed and commented on the contents of her shopping."

The woman locked the door behind him but then realised her purse was missing and so ran after him.

"She verbally challenged him at first and then physically searched him," said Miss Brown.

"She says she did this instinctively without thinking about what danger she might have put herself in."

The court heard that the woman has since had panic attacks and ended up in hospital.

"She feels angry that this defendant took advantage of her kindness," said Miss Brown.

Rachel Faux, defending, said Gallagher's drug addiction had increased as he struggled to cope after his 71-year-old mother was taken to hospital with coronavirus and the burglary had not been planned.